Dis'si-pā'tion, n.

n. [Lat. dissipatio, Fr. & Pr. dissipation, Sp. disipacion, It. dissipazione.] 1. The act of dissipating or dispersing; a state of dispersion or separation. “The famous dissipation of mankind.” Hale. My case being delayed from day to day till the dissipation of those who should have been my judges. Ludlow. 2. A dissolute course of life, in which money is squandered in pursuit of pleasure; profuseness in vicious indulgences; dissoluteness. To reclaim the spendthrift from his dissipation and extravagance. P. Henry. 3. A trifle which distracts attention. Prevented from finishing them [letters] by a thousand avocations and dissipations. Swift. 4. A state of distracted or scattered attention.